The void.

Kryzius stood outside, gazing into the dark night. The cold, soft air brushed against him, but he felt nothing. Aeti had explained that his high energy levels prevented him from feeling fatigue or the need for sleep. This was perhaps why he never felt tired.

Yet, there was a strange feeling gnawing at him, an unease he couldn't fully comprehend. How had he managed to fight so effectively? And those flashbacks—what were they?

The more questions that swirled in his mind, the more bizarre everything seemed. His past, his abilities, and the vivid memories that didn't seem to belong to him all jumbled together in a confusing puzzle.

In frustration, he clenched his fist, feeling the tension building inside him. The answers seemed just out of reach, and the uncertainty of it all weighed heavily on him. He knew he needed to understand who he was and why these strange things were happening to him. Only then could he fully embrace his role and protect those who relied on him.

As he stood there, lost in thought, he resolved to uncover the truth, no matter how difficult the journey might be.

Suddenly, his head started to throb with intense pain. Kryzius grunted, clutching his temples as the world around him seemed to blur and fade.

...

...

When the pain subsided, he slowly looked up, and to his astonishment, he found himself no longer standing outside the ship. Instead, he was in a vast, white expanse of nothingness. The familiar surroundings were gone, replaced by an eerie, empty void.

He turned around, trying to make sense of his new environment. There were no landmarks, no sounds, nothing to anchor him. It was as if he had been transported to another realm entirely. The stark emptiness was disorienting, and he felt a strange mix of fear and curiosity.

As he took a tentative step forward, the ground beneath him remained solid, but the sense of isolation was overwhelming. Kryzius wondered if this was another part of his fragmented memories or perhaps a manifestation of the questions plaguing his mind.

"Where am I?" he muttered to himself, his voice echoing into the void.

Just as he was about to take another step, a faint figure began to materialize in the distance. The figure's form was hazy and indistinct, but it seemed to be approaching him. Kryzius watched, unsure of what to expect, as the figure drew nearer, bringing with it the possibility of answers to the questions that haunted him.

"Fuhuhu... scared of me?" A female voice, deep yet elegant, echoed around him.

Kryzius looked up to see a woman standing before him. Her body was pure white, with extremely long black hair cascading down her back. She was faceless, except for a huge, unsettling grin. A black robe concealed her figure, but her presence was undeniable.

"Who... who are you?" Kryzius asked, a mix of curiosity and fear in his voice. This woman emanated a strange, powerful aura that set him on edge.

"Oh, honey..." She approached slowly, her hand caressing his muscly yet mechanical body. "I go by many names, but... you can call me Nyx for now." Her voice took on a flirtatious tone at the end.

Kryzius looked down at Nyx, and suddenly a strange realization dawned on him. "You... you are the woman from..."

"Fuhuhu... you finally realize?~"

"But I don't understand... what was all that about... and... what is going on?!"

Nyx stood silent for a moment, then giggled. "You may want to sit for this one, honey...~"

Kryzius felt a strange pull, and he found himself seated on a chair that hadn't been there before. Nyx circled him, her presence both comforting and menacing.

"You see... everything started when you died. As soon as you were reborn as Kryzius, your mind was mixed with his..."

Kryzius stood silent, listening to the explanation. It made a little more sense, but there were still gaps. "But... if our minds were mixed, why can't I remember anything?"

"Well... it seems that Kryzius tried to integrate his entire essence into you. The process didn't go as planned."

"I see... But how and why did he do that?"

Nyx paused, her grin fading slightly. "I suppose he felt remorse."

"What?"

"You see, when you died in the fire, he didn't know why, but he chose you. He saw something in you that made him believe you were worthy of carrying on his legacy."

Kryzius's mind raced with questions. "But why me? Why not someone else?"

Nyx's expression softened. "Sometimes, even the greatest warriors can't explain their instincts. Kryzius saw potential in you, a chance to continue his fight, to protect this world. He wanted to give you his strength, his skills. But the process wasn't perfect, and your memories became fragmented.

Everything seem to made sense now. But the only thing that doesn't make sense is…her.

"Who... exactly are you?" Kryzius asked, his voice shaky.

Suddenly, a strange weight settled on his lap. Nyx was sitting there, a huge grin on her faceless visage. "I guess... you can say I'm a really important person to him."

...

There was a strange silence as Kryzius stared at Nyx right in front of him. "Why do I feel like you want something?"

Nyx remained silent for a moment before bursting into devilish laughter, her voice echoing and sending chills down Kryzius's spine.

"Even if the real Kryzius is gone, you seem to be as perceptive as him."

"So... it's a yes," Kryzius replied, his eyes narrowing.

Nyx rested her head against Kryzius's chest. "Indeed... Let's just say that existing here is quite boring. I just want to feel something."

"Something... like... what?" Kryzius asked cautiously.

"Power," Nyx said, her voice dripping with desire.

Kryzius fell silent at the mention of the word.

"I want to merge my aura with yours," Nyx continued.

Kryzius felt a mixture of fear and curiosity. "And what would that mean for me?"

Nyx's grin widened. "It means you'll gain strength beyond your imagination. But you'll also carry my presence within you, a part of me intertwined with your very essence."

Kryzius considered her words, the weight of the decision heavy on his mind. "And if I refuse?"

Nyx's expression darkened slightly. "Then you'll continue as you are, struggling to unlock your true potential. But remember, power always comes at a price."

Kryzius took a deep breath, the weight of the choice pressing down on him. "I need time to think."

Nyx nodded, her grin never fading. "Take all the time you need, my dear. I'll be here, waiting."

With that, the white void began to fade once more, and Kryzius found himself back on the ship, the cold night air around him. He stood there, staring out into the darkness, knowing that his path had just become even more complicated.